Kalanchoe plant named ‘Yellow Josefine’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Yellow Josefine’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; yellow-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Yellow Josefine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yellow Josefine’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars withcompact plant habit and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theKalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Josefine, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 12,309. The cultivar Yellow Josefine was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a flowering plant within a population of plants of thecultivar Josefine in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings taken atHinnerup, Denmark, by the Inventor, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yellow Josefine has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yellow Josefine’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yellow Josefine’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and compact plant habit.

2. Dark green-colored leaves.

3. Yellow-colored flowers.

4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe are most similar to plants of the cultivarJosefine and differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Josefine inflower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse naturallight conditions on a sunny day at approximately noon in Hinnerup,Denmark.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical potted plant of ‘Yellow Josefine’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of thefollowing: side and top perspective views of a typical flowering cymeand top perspective views of immature and fully expanded floral leavesof ‘Yellow Josefine’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in thephotographs and for the following observations and measurements weregrown in Hinnerup, Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse for about 10 weeks after the start of short day/long nightphotoperiodic treatment with average temperatures of 20° C. Plants usedin the description and photographs were not pinched. Unless otherwisespecified, the leaf description represents leaves from a vegetativeplant.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar YellowJosefine.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Josefine, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,309.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright and compact plant habit with numerous compound cymes;freely flowering. Actual plant shape will depend on whether or notplants are pinched (apical terminals removed). Finished plant size isappropriate for one plant per 9 to 10-cm container.

Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching (removal of terminal apex)is not required but will enhance lateral branch development.

Plant height at flowering.—About 24 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 19 cm.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Size: Leaf size is reduced after floral induction. Vegetative plants:Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Reproductive plants: Length:About 7.5 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Obtuse. Base:Obtuse. Margin: Crenate; undulate. Aspect: Slightly concave. Texture:Leathery, glabrous, succulent, rugose. Color: Young foliage, uppersurface: 137A, glossy. Young foliage, lower surface: 137C. Maturefoliage, upper surface: 147A, glossy. Mature foliage, lower surface:147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound dichasialcymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright flowering stems. Freelyflowering. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Late autumn/winter/early spring; flowerinitiation and development can be induced under short day/long nightconditions.

Time to flower.—In the summer with 20° C. growing temperatures, about 9weeks of short day/long night conditions are required to produceflowering plants. During the winter with supplemental lighting and 20°C. growing temperatures, about 11 weeks of short day/long nightconditions are required to produce flowering plants. Time to flower isprimarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.

Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at the mainaxis and is followed by the opening of the terminal flowers of the sidebranches of the inflorescence. About 1 week after the first flower hasopened, 50% of the remaining flowers are open. Post-productionlongevity: Plants of the new Kalanchoe maintain good leaf and flowersubstance for at least five weeks under interior environmentalconditions.

Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.

Quantity.—Very freely flowering, at least 300 flowers per plant.

Flower buds.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About3 mm. Color: 15C.

Petals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 8 mm. Shape: Roundobovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth andsatiny. Color: Upper surface: 14A. Lower surface: 14C to 24C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Eight. Anther shape:Slightly oblong. Filament color: Yellow green. Pollen color: Yellow.Pistils: Pistil number: Four. Style color: Green. Stigma shape: Round.Ovaries: Superior and four-celled. Ovary size: About 7 mm by 2 mm. Ovarycolor: Light green.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Kalanchoe diseases has not beenobserved on plants of the new Kalanchoe grown under commercialgreenhouse conditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named‘Yellow Josefine’, as illustrated and described.